Cornell Chronicle

Sanders says:

“Protests are very useful at raising issues to which those in power are insufficiently attentive. But to be effective, groups/movements must go beyond protest (recall the ineffectiveness of Occupy Wall Street). They must organize electoral coalitions. That entails, inevitably, some compromise to reach out to others, finding common denominators that mobilize large coalitions who will communicate with the powerful, and not completely demonizing one’s targets.

“Talking to people who don’t completely agree with you, working out a common strategy, is more liberating, more empowering, than most people know. Alas, the hard work of talking, organizing, and building alliances is not as much fun as marching, shouting slogans, and – for some – fighting.

“But the use of violence weakens legitimacy, shrinks coalitions, and invites governments to crack down. All protesting groups - democratizers, climate activists, and others – should review the strategies of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil rights movement, and read Gene Sharp’s books on how to organize effective social movements. Nonviolence is essential. And that extends to violent language - avoidance of hateful labeling of perceived opponents.”